Fairtrade originated as a method for smallholder farmers and craft producers to access European markets and obtain a better price for their product by bypassing some of the intermediaries involved in the supply chain. Nowadays it is an integral segment of the retail market in many countries. Fairtrade aims to help marginalised producers and workers achieve security, economic self-sufficiency and a wider role in global trade. Producers and workers are encouraged to become stakeholders in their own organisations.

Imani Development has been involved in fairtrade issues and projects for the last 20 years. These activities include:

• managing and implementing a Producer Partnership Programme on behalf of Cafédirect, the UK’s leading supplier of fair trade hot beverages 
• helping to establish the Fairtrade South Africa Trust in South Africa
• feasibility study into establishing an East Africa base for fairtrade finance in the region